The Castleton Medical College Building, now known as the Old Chapel, is a historic building of the Castleton Medical College on Seminary Street in

Castleton, Vermont Castleton is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. Castleton is about to the west of Rutland, the county's seat and most populous city, and about east of the New York/Vermont state border. The town had a population of 4,458 at the ...

, United States. Founded in 1818, it was the first medical college in Vermont, and the first private degree-granting medical school in the United States. The chapel-like building was built in 1821, and is now the oldest building on the campus of

Castleton University Castleton University is a public university in Castleton, Vermont. It has an enrollment of 2000 students and offers more than 30 undergraduate programs, as well as master's degrees in education and accounting. It is accredited by the New England ...

. Its current use is for special meetings and performances for

. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1971.

Description and history

The former Castleton Medical College Building stands on the Castleton University campus, between Seminary and Elm Streets. It is a two-story wooden structure, with timber framing enclosed by wooden clapboards, and a gabled roof. A projecting vestibule has a lower roof line than the main block, with a fully pedimented gable end, and the main entrance in a recess flanked by pilasters and topped by an entablature. At the front of the main roof a two-stage tower rises, square in the first stage, and with an open octagonal cupola above. Castleton Medical College was founded in 1818, and this building was constructed in 1821. It is believed to be the oldest surviving medical school building in the United States. It was moved a short distance () in the 20th century to make way for new construction on the CU campus. It now houses classroom facilities for the university's art department.

Notable alumni of Castleton Medical College

* Smith A. Boughton, leader of the

Anti-Rent War The Anti-Rent War (also known as the Helderberg War) was a tenants' revolt in upstate New York in the period 1839–1845. The Anti-Renters declared their independence from the manor system run by patroons, resisting tax collectors and successful ...

* Charles M. Crandall, physician and member of the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Assem ...

Samuel Denton Samuel Denton (July 2, 1803 – August 17, 1860) was an American physician and politician. Career Denton was born in Wallkill, New York on July 2, 1803, graduated from Castleton Medical College in Vermont in 1825, and moved to Ann Arbor, Michi ...

, physician and politician in Michigan * Isaiah H. Hedge, physician, Baptist philanthropist at

Bates College Bates College () is a private liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine. Anchored by the Historic Quad, the campus of Bates totals with a small urban campus which includes 33 Victorian Houses as some of the dormitories. It maintains of nature p ...

* Robert M. Hunt, California physician *

John Gould Stephenson John Gould Stephenson (March 1, 1828 – November 11, 1883) was an American physician and soldier. He was the fifth Librarian of the United States Congress from 1861 to 1864. He was referred to as the "librarian of the Civil War era" because Ste ...

, physician and soldier, Librarian of Congress * Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon Sr., pioneer physician, philanthropist

References

{{NRHP in Rutland County, Vermont Buildings and structures in Castleton, Vermont Castleton University School buildings completed in 1821 University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Vermont National Register of Historic Places in Rutland County, Vermont Historic district contributing properties in Vermont 1821 establishments in Vermont

Description and history

Notable alumni of Castleton Medical College

See also

References